ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will kick off the 2021 college football season by showcasing two early-season kickoff games in Atlanta and Charlotte, including a first-ever visit to the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff in week 0.

The premier college football pregame show will make its first stop on Saturday, Aug. 28 (9 a.m. ET, ESPN), live from outside Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, the site of the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff – featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) North Carolina Central and Alcorn State (7 p.m., ESPN). The three-hour season preview show will highlight key storylines and offer news, analysis and predictions for upcoming college football season, while also celebrating the tradition, legacy and values of HBCUs.

“We all missed the traditions of college football and the festive atmosphere of Saturdays last season, so we are particularly excited to welcome fans back for College GameDay’s 35^th season, starting with the first two road shows in Atlanta and Charlotte,” said Drew Gallagher, ESPN coordinating producer.

Marching bands from both North Carolina Central (The Marching Sound Machine) and Alcorn State (The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite) will also be showcased during GameDay’s week 0 stop.

In addition to College GameDay, ESPN’s signature morning debate show First Take – featuring Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and host Molly Qerim Rose – will be live from Center Parc Stadium on Friday, Aug. 27, preparing fans for the Eagles vs. Braves matchup. The trio will also welcome a full lineup of special guests as they celebrate their first roadshow of the year.

Following the season-preview show, College GameDay will travel to Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 4, to spotlight the highly anticipated, potential top-five matchup of Georgia vs. Clemson in the Duke’s Mayo Classic. The show will originate from Bearden Park in uptown Charlotte, just a few minutes from Bank of America Stadium, where the Bulldogs will take on the Tigers at 7:30 p.m., on ABC Saturday Night Football presented by Capital One. The southern rivals have played more than 60 times, but this will be the first game between the SEC and ACC schools since 2014.

Additional details and information regarding College GameDay’s first two shows, including special guests, will be announced in the coming weeks.

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ESPN and The Walt Disney Company have reached an unprecedented partnership with Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions company that will result in a first-of-its kind Monday Night Football MegaCast production, featuring both Peyton and Eli Manning. Peyton and Eli, combined four-time Super Bowl champions, will headline the new additional viewing option starting with the 2021 NFL Season through the 2023 season (a total of 30 games over 3 seasons).

Each Peyton and Eli-fronted MegaCast will be distributed on ESPN2, with potential for additional distribution on other Disney properties including ESPN+, complementing Monday Night Football’s traditional telecast, which will continue to be available on ESPN and/or ABC each week. Together, the two viewing options will expand the reach and audience of the historic NFL television franchise.

“Offering multiple Monday Night Football viewing options for the next three seasons continues our innovation efforts and provides additional value for our fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content. “Peyton and Eli will bring a different approach, delving into conversation about broader, big-picture topics while also honing in on the game, much like fans do when watching with their family and friends.”

Produced by ESPN, in conjunction with Omaha Productions, the unique MegaCast option will originate from a remote location. Fans will be treated to a mix of in-the-moment analysis, big picture NFL dialogue, knee-jerk reaction, historical perspective, and more. Peyton and Eli will be joined each week by a to-be-determined host. Iconic and current athletes, as well as celebrities, are expected to appear throughout the season. Fans will never miss any of the action, as a multi-box viewing experience will ensure the game is always visible.

“This partnership with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company reflects an ongoing, shared commitment to offering fans fun, innovative content,” said Peyton Manning. “ESPN+ has been a terrific partner for Omaha Productions as we built out The Places franchise and we’re excited to co-create a new MegaCast format that will have something for everyone.”

This deal extends and enhances the meaningful relationship between Peyton, Omaha Productions, ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, one that formally began in 2019 with the launch of Peyton’s Places on ESPN+, produced by NFL Films. The show’s original concept, which celebrated the NFL’s 100th season and offered a fun, light-hearted dive into the moments, people and places that helped shape the sport’s history, has developed to become ESPN+’s most extensive franchise.  Five new series, executive produced by Omaha Productions and NFL Films, are in production and will debut over the next year. The new series are Abby’s Places, with Abby Wambach (soccer), Eli’s Places with Eli Manning (college football), Papi’s Places with David Ortiz (Major League Baseball), Rowdy’s Places with Ronda Rousey (combat sports) and Vince’s Places with Vince Carter (NBA). Abby’s Places first episode is available now.

As previously announced, Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters and John Parry return for their second consecutive season as a broadcast group and will be on the traditional call of Monday Night Football on ESPN. The commentary team will be onsite each week, including when fans are inside Allegiant Stadium for the first time for a regular season game in Week 1. ESPN’s full 2021 NFL schedule is available here.

“Steve, Brian, Louis, Lisa and John are poised for a great season, building upon the strong foundation they formed in a very successful first year despite the challenges brought about due to the pandemic,” said Pitaro. ““This new MegaCast option is designed to be a great complement to our traditional telecast.”

In addition to airing on ESPN and/or ABC, the traditional call of Monday Night Football will be streamed across devices on ESPN and/or ABC and NFL digital properties, and on mobile via participating club apps and Verizon Media mobile properties. ESPN Deportes will produce Spanish-language presentations which will be streamed across ESPN digital properties and Verizon Media mobile properties.

Peyton and Eli’s MegaCast broadcast will debut the first three weeks of 2021 MNF slate (Baltimore at Las Vegas, Detroit at Green Bay, and Philadelphia at Dallas) and continue seven other weeks during the season, to be announced.

About Omaha Productions
Omaha Productions is a production company launched by Peyton Manning following his retirement from the NFL. Omaha focuses on developing content that champions hard work, encourages the pursuit of passion, and celebrates community. Starting with the 2021 NFL Season, Omaha Productions will executive produce ESPN’s Monday Night Football MegaCast. The company also produces ESPN+’s PLACES series featuring Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Abby Wambach, Vince Carter, David Ortiz and Ronda Rousey.

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